MORE $$$ – Get ready to dig deeper. PATH fares go up on Monday, Oct. 1, just in time for the new work week. But don’t expect the commute to be any more comfortable than it was last week when the fare was cheaper. (See Brief)

The Hudson Reporter offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8 for Columbus Day. Thus, deadlines for that week’s Bayonne Community News (Oct. 10) and Midweek Reporter (Oct. 11) have moved up.

Display advertisements for those issues are due by 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. Classified ads are due by noon on Friday, Oct. 5. Editorial items are also due by noon on Friday.

If you have questions, please call the Reporter at (201) 798-7800.

Solomon Dwek, FBI informant who brought down local politicians, to be sentenced next month for bank fraud

Solomon Dwek, an FBI informant who offered bribes to local political officials and candidates in a statewide sting operation in 2009, will be sentenced in October for the bank fraud case that led to his agreement to be an informant, according to NJ.com.

Dwek, a Monmouth County native, had been arrested in 2006 after depositing a fraudulent $25 million check in a bank. Eventually, he agreed to be a government informant.

In the spring of 2009, as part of Operation Bid Rig, he met with local officials and people who were running for office. He offered to give them campaign donations, requesting favoritism for his development deals in return.

That July, more than 40 people were arrested, including three North Jersey mayors, among them Dennis Elwell in Secaucus and Peter Cammarano in Hoboken.

The grand totals? NJ.com has this count: 32 people pleaded guilty, charges were dropped against four, four were convicted, two were acquitted, two await trials, one (local political consultant Jack Shaw) has died, and one has avoided capture.

Several people who pleaded guilty in 2009 and 2010 have already completed their sentences and have been released from prison.

Dwek will find out in a few weeks whether he gets a reduced sentence due to his cooperation.

PATH fares go up this week

It has been a year since the Port Authority and New York approved a controversial package of fare and toll increases, including increases to the PATH train system. But the next phase of the Port Authority’s fare increase is scheduled to go into effect on Monday, Oct. 1 at 3 a.m. The regular base fare for a one-way trip will rise from $2 to $2.25. Customers who use Smartlink fare cards will pay $1.70 per trip. However, customers who use the inter-rail Metrocards that are accepted by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York and the PATH system will have to pay the $2.25 rate, just like cash customers.

Jersey City installs new credit card friendly parking meters

The Jersey City Parking Authority is testing out new parking meters on Montgomery Street, between Warren and Greene streets. The new meters will accept credit cards, in addition to coin payments. The meters do not take debit cards, however.

The new meters became fully functional on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and will be tested over a 90-day trial period. During this trial, the Jersey City Parking Authority will determine whether coin usage decreases enough to warrant installing more credit card meters elsewhere in the city.

If the pilot is successful, this new parking meter could replace many of the antiquated coin operated meters now utilized throughout the city. The city will not incur any charges for the new meters or credit card data during the 90-day trial period.

“The city is looking to implement new technologies that will help provide more efficient and convenient parking alternatives for our residents, businesses and visitors,” said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. “We encourage our residents and visitors to use these new meters and provide feedback so we can further improve our parking meter system throughout the city.”

A spokeswoman for Healy said the new meters are not similar to the pay stations that were installed in the Jersey City Heights, which several residents said did not operate properly.

AT&T says: ‘Don’t text and drive’

On Saturday, Sept. 29, AT&T was scheduled to bring its “No text on board” public education campaign to its store in Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City. The company is asking drivers to take a pledge not to text when behind the wheel of a car. As part of the campaign, which is particularly geared towards younger drivers, AT&T is reaching out to high schools and high school organizations to help get its message out and is enlisting the support of celebrities. Singer Ryan Beatty was scheduled to be at the Newport mall event from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

To take the pledge not to text while driving, visit www.ItCantWait.com.

Bird watching at the Reservoir

Bet you didn’t know that the Jersey City Reservoir is a stopover habitat for waterfowl and a range of neotropical and woodland short-distance migrants. (We didn’t.) On Saturday, Oct 6 visitors are invited to participate in a bird watch at the reservoir which will be led by passionate ornithologist Michael Britt. Britt is an associate naturalist for New Jersey Audubon Society, a reviewer for eBird, a compiler for the Lower Hudson Christmas Bird Count, and the author of numerous writings in the field. In addition to looking for neotropical and woodland short-distance migrants, participants may also be lucky enough to spot a number of shorebirds, wading birds (herons and egrets) and rails.

Binoculars will be available at the reservoir. But space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve a space, contact the Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance at http://www.jcreservoir.org.

This event is free.

HCCC to hold job fair

The Hudson County Community College Center for Business & Industry (CBI) has planned a job fair for Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the College’s Culinary Arts Institute Conference Center at 161 Newkirk Street, Jersey City.

CBI Executive Director Ana Chapman said the college invites employers from the full spectrum of industries in Hudson County to participate. She expects to have companies from the finance, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, transportation, logistics, and distribution field in attendance that day.

The job fair will be open to Hudson County residents ages 18 and older who have a high school diploma or GED. Job-seekers are asked to bring copies of their résumés with them and have the names and contact information for their references. In addition to applying for employment with the participating companies and organizations, jobseekers will also have the opportunity to attend information sessions on résumé writing, interviewing skills, targeted job searches, and enhancing workplace skills. Employers interested in participating in the job fair are asked to call Chapman at (201) 360-4242 or e-mailing her at chapman@hccc.edu.

Jobseekers can register at http://goo.gL/N9et2.

Freemasons to hold open house

On Saturday, Oct. 13 Enterprise Lodge No. 31 of the Free and Accepted Masons will hold an open house and give tours of their lodge at 85 Hutton St. in Jersey City. The open house is open to the public and will begin at 11 a.m.